Camping outfit



E. J. LANG CAMPING OUTFIT April 26, 1932.

Filed March 19, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet E. J. LANG CAMPING OUTFIT A ril 26, 1932;

Filed March 19, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 &N

E. J. LANG CAMPING OUTFIT April 26, 1932.

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E. J. LANG CAMPING OUTFIT April 26, 1932.

Filed Mrch 19. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 8mm EJLaZZ/g.

Patented Apr. 26, 1932' PATIENT OFFICE EDWARD J. LANG, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS CAMPING OUTFIT Application filed March 19, 1931. Serial No. 523,834.

This invention relates to camping outfits and has for an object to provide a comfortable and convenient tent which, when erected, is proof against storm, insects and rain and may be easily erected by one person in a few minutes, and may be folded and packed and transported as a trunk or in a trunk in the rear of an automobile, the bed spring unit forming a carrying frame or packing case in which the bedding and all canvas and attachments are folded and protected against the weather, rain and dust.

A further object is to provide a main unit consisting of a folding bed with spring and mattress, upon which, by means of a ridge pole, center poles and an eave pole, is supported a water-proof canvas tent in which at the side is a screen door with canvas curtain.

A further object is to provide a novel folding bed frame which is supported by folding braced legs, the canvas being secured permanently to the structure and being foldable as a unit with the structure when collapsed, but when set up the canvas is supported part- 15 ly by a rigid head frame on the bed spring and folding foot frame on the bed spring, both of these frames having removably attached thereto center poles which carry a jointed ridge pole, there being spring adjusters on the center poles which allow the canvas to be self-adjusting as to shrinkage and expansion.

A still further object is to provide, as a separate unit, a side tent provided with a door and windows and constituting the living quarters, the side tent being supported on the ridge pole at one end, and at the other end being supported by short upright poles and guy ropes, which latter extend to' ground stakes equipped with spring adjusters, which latter, together with the spring adjusters on the center poles, accommodate all changes in tension of canvas and maintain the side tent taut and neat.

A still further object is to provide novel spring adjusters for the center poles to ac commodate changes in tension of the canvas.

With the above and other objectsin view the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of 53.; the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved camping outfit,

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the bed section framework set up with the canvas removed,

Fig. 3 is a detail end elevation of the bed section shown in Fig. 2, partly folded,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the bed section completely folded to form a packing case, and showing a trunk for transporting the same,

Fig. 5 is an underneath plan view showing the legs folded against the bed spring,

Fig. 6 is a detail View in elevation of one of the base clamps for the center poles,

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 2, showing one of the coupling members for attaching the cave pole to jointed ridge pole,

Fig. 10 1s a cross sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view showing the method of hinging the screen door to fold upon the bed spring,

Fig. 12 is a view in elevation showing the two separate units of the tent consisting of the bed unit and the side tent unit,

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional View on the line 1313 of Fig. 2, showing the bend at the base of certain of the posts of the head frame to permit folding of the structure,

Fig. lt'is a cross sectional view on the line 95 1l1l of Fig. 2,showing the screen door fastener.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, and referring 1 rail 11 and ,to the top rail 31.

especially to Fig. 2, the bed spring frame comprises side rails preferably formed of channels connected by end rails 11 preferably formed of angles. This frame supports a wire mesh spring 12, see Fig. 3, which is connected to the side and end rails by coil springs. Each side rail is hinged in two places, as shown at 17 and 18, see Fig. 2, to enable it to fold, as will be presently described. On one side rail a screen door 19 is hinged at the bottom by spaced hinges 20 so that the door may be folded downwardly to be supported upon the center section of the spring.

The bed frame spring is supported at the ends bycorner legs 21, see Fig. 2, which are pivoted to the side rails, as shown at 22, and fold inwardly underneath the end sections of the bed spring frame, as shown in Fig. 5. These legs are suitably braced by inclined braces 23 which are pivoted to the end rails, as shown at 24. Two sets of center legs or s readers 25 are pivoted to the center sectlons of the hinged side rails, as shown at 26, and these legs fold inwardly against the bottom of the center section of the bed spring, as also shown in Fig. 5, one pair of the legs being offset slightly, as shown in this figure, to permit the other pair overlapping them when folded. Suitable cross braces 27 are employed to reinforce the legs against spreading apart in operative position. Inclined braces 28 are pivoted to the side rails, as shown at 29, and are detachablyconnected to the legs 25, as shown at 30. These braces may be detached from the legs to permitthe legs being folded.

It will thus be seen that the bed spring frame comprises terminal sections and a center section hingedly connected together, the terminal sections being equipped with supporting legs, as is also the center section, all of the legs being folded against the bottoms of the corresponding sections.

At the head-of the bed framev there is a rigid upri ht frame comprising a horizontal top rail 31 provided with side portions'32 which extend parallel with the side rails 11 to a point near and above the hinges 18, these portions terminating in posts 33 which extend to said side rails and are riveted rigidly thereto, as shown at 34. Corner posts 35 are rigidly secured to the corners of the end Suitable brace strips 36 and 37 complete the structure of the rigid head frame. The rigid assembly of head frame and head section of the bed spring cooperates with the foldable foot section'of the bed spring to provide a packing case, as will hereinafter be more fully described, for storing or shipping the outfit.

, A foot frame is pivoted to the foot section of. the bed frame and comprises a top rail 38 which extends parallel with the foot rail 11 of the bed frame and is terminally provided with corner posts 39. These posts are bent inwardly at the bottom to provide pivots 40 which are journaled in bearings 41 on the end rail. As best shown in Fig. 3, the foot frame is thus hinged to the foot rail 11 so that, as

indicated by the arrow-heads, the foot frame may be folded underneath the adjacent foot section of the bed spring.

When in set up position, as shown in Fig. 2, the bed spring frame, legs, head and foot frames form the basic structure of the bed section'of the tent. To complete the framework, ajointed eave pole 43 is terminally secured to one-corner post 35 of the head frame and to the corresponding corner post 39 of the foot frame. Also, two center poles 44 are attached to "the other corner post 35 of the head frame and to the corresponding corner post 39 of the foot frame. Also, a ointed ridge pole 45 is mounted to bridge and connect the center poles 44'. Suitable inclined braces 46 connect the center poles 44"with the top rails 31 and 38, respectively, of the head and foot frames to brace the center poles against collapse, and an additional inclined brace 42 is connected to the side portion 32 of the head frame and to the adjacent center pole for the same purpose.

To mount the jointed eave pole 43, see Fig.

7, coupling sockets 47 are rigidly secured to the outer corner posts 35 and 39 of the head and foot frames, and rings 48 are slidably mounted on said posts above the sockets. bearing 49 is fixed on each end of the eave pole. with a lug 50 to engage in a corresponding socket 47, and is provided at the top with a lug 51 over which the corresponding ring 48 may be slipped to removably confine the bearing in the socket. pole, the rings 48 may be raised to release the bearings 49.

The sections of the jointed ridge pole are coupled together at the center by a metal sleeve 52, as shown in Fig. 9. Metal lugs carried by each section enter corresponding I openings 54 in the bottom of the sleeve to are beveled, as shown at 55, to permit suflic'ient rocking thereof to engage and disengage the lugs. The ridge pole is supported a the ends on two springs adjusters 56 carried by the center poles.

'Each spring adjuster is shown in Fig. 8 to comprise a collar 57 on the corresponding center pole 44 upon which is seated a coil spring 58 that surrounds the pole. A metal housing59 surrounds the spring and is open at the top and bottom to receive the pole and permit of the pole projecting at the upper end beyond the housing. The housing is yieldabl'y supported by the coil spring 58 and forms a bearing upon which the corresponding end of the ridge pole rests when the pro- Each bearing is provided at the bottom To dismount the eave j'ectin'g end of the center pole is passed into a suitable opening formed in the ridge pole to receive it. The purpose of the spring adjusters is to yieldably support the ridge pole to compensate for shrin vas in wet weather.

The center poles 44 are removably secured to the corresponding corner posts 35 and 39 of the head. and foot frames of the bed spring bymeans of clamps 61, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 6. Each clamp is preferably formed of spring metal and comprises a socket 62 in which the center pole ispreferably riveted, as shown at 63. The socket sides are spread apart and continued laterally to provide resilient flanges 64'which receive the corresponding center posts of the bed frame. A lug 65 carried by the post enters a notch 66 formed in one of the flanges and holds the clamp in place. To detach the corner post, the clamp is raised sufficiently to clear the lug, and then pulled laterally from the post, the spring flanges yielding suflicient-ly to permit disengagement thereof from the post.

The diagonal brace rods 46 and 42, see Fig. 2, are respectively secured to the center poles by means of sliding shackles 67 which permit of the brace rods being collapsed along the poles when in inoperative position. Arched strap sleeves 68' disposed on the top rails 31, 32 and 38 of the head and foot frames receive the free ends of the brace rods to hold the brace rods in operative position.

As above stated, the screen door 19 is hinged at the bottom by hinges 20, as shown in Fig. 11, to the center section of the bed frame. The door is held upright and secured to the ridge pole, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of a rod 69 which is attached in any preferred manner to the door frame and is receivable at the top in a socket 7 0 formed in the bottom edge of the ridge pole. For further securing the door rigidly, a strap 71, see Fig. 14, is removably secured at one end to the door frame by means of a screw 72, or otherwise, and is curved at the end to hook over the adjacent corner post 33 of the head frame. As best shown in Fig. 14, said corage of the canner post is received in a cut away portion of the adjacent edge of the door frame to promote rigid assembly of these parts, and it will also be observed, by referring to Figs. 2 and 13, that both posts 33 of the head frame are suitably curved nearthe bottom to permit folding of the bed frame, as will behereinafter described in detail.

The canvas or envelope 73 of the bed section, as best shown in Fig. 12, extends all around the four sides and roof and also across the top of the wire spring. This canvas is fastened permanently to the side and end rails of the bed spring in any manner, such as, for instance, by a thin metal strip on top of the side and end rails bolted through the canvas to said rails. The roof of the canvas is supported on one side by the jointed ridge pole 45 passing through pockets in the canvas and resting on the center poles, and at the other side by the jointed eave pole 43 which also passes through pockets in the canvas. The canvas is also tacked and bound permanently to the inside of the door frame 19. WVhen the structure is fold ed, the canvas folds as a unit therewith after removal of the ridge pole, eave pole, and center poles.

The canvas envelope 7 3 of the side tent, shown best in Figs. 1 and 12, is supported at one end by suitable corner poles 74 held upright by guy ropes 75. Preferably, the guy ropes are secured to stakes through the instrumentality of spring adjusters which coact with the spring adjusters 56 of the ridge poles to take up varying tension in the canvas. At the opposite end, the side tent is supported by means of a fly 76 which is trained over the ridge pole 45 and secured to the head and foot frames of the bed unit. The corners of the side tent are secured at the bottom by the usual cord loops and stakes, not shown. The side tent is an independent unit and, when collapsed and folded up, may be inserted in the packing case formed by the folded bed frame structure for transportation and storage.

Preferably, the front wall of the side tent is equipped with a canvas door 77, see Fig. 1 which may be secured in closed position by suitable snap fasteners and which carries a screen window 78 suitably held in canvas flaps'79 and secured by snap fasteners 80. This window may be curtained on the inside if desired to insure privacy.

To collapse the tent for folding and packing, the procedure is as follows:

The ground stakes at the corners of the side tent, as well as the poles 74 carrying the guy ropes, are removed, and thenthe snap fasteners of the canvas around the screen door frame are detached, whereupon the fly 76 is unfastened from the head and foot frames of the bed section. This allows the side tent to collapse and drop to the ground, after which it may be neatly folded to be placed in the packing case.

Next, the center poles 44 are disconnected from the head and foot frames, and the ridge pole is detached to allow the screen door 19, together with the canvas envelope 73, to fold down on the center section of the bed frame. Next, disconnect and remove the cave pole 43, which allows the wall of the canvas envelope to drop. Now step to the foot of the bed spring and fold the foot section of the bed frame up and over to and down upon the screen door, this fold also allowing the foot frame 38 to drop into proper position, as shown by the arrow-heads in Fig. 3. Now, smooth out the canvas as much as is necessary, packing parts of it between the screen door and the center section of the bed spring to make a compact job. Now, rock upward into vertical position the combined unit of the intermediate or center bed spring section, the foot spring section and foot frame, to vertical position at the front of the rigid head frame, as best shown in Fig. 4. In this position, the parts form a packing case.

It is understood, of course, that before collapsing any part of the bed section, the mattress and bedding should be rolled into a compact bedding roll and strapped in position at the head of the bed spring. The folded canvas of the side tent and all attachments may now be packed into the packing case on top of the canvas and bedding of the bed section. After this is done, there should be some additional room left at the top of the packing case for packing an extra folding cot, bedding or other baggage, as may be desired. The reverse operation, to erect the tent, will be easily understood from the foregoing description.

In practice, preferable dimensions of the parts permit of the packing case being placed in an automobile trunk, such as shown in dotted lines at 87, Fig. 4 for transportation.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A folding frame structure for tents comprising a bed spring frame formed of a plurality of sections hinged together, a rigid upright frame carried by one of the sections, and a pivoted upright frame carried by another of the sections, said pivoted frame and certain of the sections being foldable upon each other and then foldable as a unit toward the rigid frame to operate therewith in forming a packing case.

2. A folding frame structure for tents comprising a head frame, a footframe, center poles detachably associated with both frames, a ridge pole supported by the center poles, and terminal and intermediate bed spring frame sections hinged together, the head frame being rigidly secured to one of said terminal sections and the foot frame being hinged to the other terminal section, the foot frame being foldable upon the correspond ing terminal section and both being then foldable upon the intermediate section, which latter is then foldable toward said head frame whereby to cooperate therewith in forming a packing case.

3. A folding frame structure for tents comprising terminal and intermediate bed spring frame sections hinged together, a head frame rigidly secured to one terminal section, a foot frame hinged to the other terminal section, an cave pole connecting the frames, center poles carried by the frames, a ridge pole supported by the center poles, and braces connecting the center poles to the frames and coacting with the cave pole in holding the frame structure in set up position, the intermediate spring section, the hinged foot frame and the terminal spring section to which the foot frame is hinged being foldable to lie fiat upon each other and then being foldable as a unit toward the rigid head frame to cooperate therewith in forming a packing case.

4. A folding frame structure for tents comprising a bed spring frame having a center section and terminal sections hinged to the center section, a door hinged at the bottom to one side of the center section and foldable downwardly across the center section, supporting legs for the sections foldable against the underneath faces of the sections, a head frame rigidly secured to one terminal section, and a foot frame hinged to the other terminal section and foldable together with said section across the folded door, the folded foot frame, door and folded terminal section being then foldable as a unit toward the head frame to cooperate with the head frame in forming a packing case.

5. A folding frame structure for tents comprising terminal and intermediate bed spring frame sect-ions hinged together, a head frame ri 'idly secured to one terminal section and extending along the sides and the end of said section, a foot frame hinged to the end of the other terminal section, center poles carried by the frames, a ridge pole supported by the center poles, an eave pole carried by the frames, a door hinged at the bottom to the intermediate spring sect1on, and means for connecting the door frame to one side of the head frame and to the ridge pole for holding the door upright, the door, the foot frame and the terminal section upon which the foot frame is hinged being foldable to lie flat upon each other and then being foldable as a unit toward the head frame to cooperate with the sides and end of the head frame in forming a packing case.

6. A folding frame structure for tents comprising folding bed spring frame sections, head and foot frames rising therefrom, one of the frames being pivoted to a section to fold up therewith, the other frame being rigidly connected to another section, said sections and pivoted frame being adapted to be folded toward the rigid frame to form a packing case, a sectional center pole removably secured to each frame, a sectional ridge pole yieldably supported by the center poles, and a sectional ridge pole removably secured to the frames.

7. A folding frame structure for tents comprising, folding bed spring frame sections, a rigid frame and a pivoted frame carried by the sections, the pivoted frame and sections being foldable together as a unit toward the rigid frame to form a packing case, the rigid frame having lateral extensions at the ends projecting along opposite sides of the adjacent bed sections, a door hinged at its bottom to one side of a section and foldable downwardly upon said section, and means for removably securing the door at the edge thereof to one of said extensions of the rigid frame to secure the door in upright position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EDWARD J. LANG. L 5. 

